Former Libertyville setter Stu Zacher left behind his not-so-little brother, Eric, to help carry on the winning tradition for the Wildcats.

Well, that may take some time. After all graduation took away most everyone from last year's squad. The 6-foot-2 junior Zacher is confident his team will some noise before volleyball season closes later this spring.

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On Tuesday night in Winnetka, the Wildcats (0-2) completed their quick tour of the Central Suburban League with a tough 25-17, 25-4 loss to New Trier.

Libertyville also dropped a match to Maine South earlier in the season.

"It's a learning experience,'' Zacher said. "Things kind of went downhill. As a team we have to pick each other up."

Eric Zacher reports that his brother is still playing the game at St. Ambrose University. Naturally, Eric followed Stu into the sport, even though big bro plays a different position.

Eric Zacher paced the Wildcats with 6 kills from his outside hitter spot.

The winning Trevians (4-3) aren't all that of a senior-laden team either. New Trier, with six seniors, raced to a 12-6 lead in set one.

And in set one, the Wildcats fought back. With Dan Tropple serving, Zacher notched a pair of kills as the Cats pulled within a pair of points at 15-13.

"We need to focus on the things we did well,'' said Libertyville coach Casey Aubin. "Now, that second game is the kind of game that will keep me up at night."

Three straight kills from New Trier senior Hank Sholl salted away set one.

Set two was over in a hurry. Another Zacher kill knotted it up at 1-1.

When New Trier setter Matt Wascher stopped serving it was 13-2.

New Trier coach Sue Ellen Haak noted the visitors were young but still applauded their effort.

"They have a lot of young guys,'' Haak said. "And they have some very good passers."

Aubin knows it will take some time to mold this Wildcats team.

"This is a lesson in humility,'' he said. "Sometimes, you have to throw the film out. We graduated everyone."

Zacher had some help on offense from Chris Akers (4 kills).

Despite this tough loss, Zacher feels his new team will get things in order soon enough.

"We have the potential for a lot of growth,'' he said. "By the end of the season, we will be a respectable team."

Naturally, the Trevians led in all departments. Mike Gajos and Kevin Keene helped lead a balanced attack with 6 kills each. Jack Serrino added 4 kills and a block. And the home team played without an injured talent in senior Carlos Zambrano.

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